Change in Mindset

Your help at Hairgrove Elementary is making a difference. In partnership with Copperfield Church, we provide a meal and snack for the Title One Camps at Hairgrove. Participation by the students in these camps has increased significantly since we started helping. A while back, Marylin Phillips shared a wonderful story that shows how our efforts are making a difference.

One of the teachers, who has been at Hairgrove for many years, told this story at a committee meeting Marylin attended in May 2011. She said that she noticed a change in the attitude of the students last year. For years, kids would come in on the testing days and say things like, “I know I’m going to fail,” or “I don’t think I’ll pass the test.” The other kids would laugh, make fun of them, or just ignore them.

But, their attitudes changed. Students were coming into the classrooms on testing days and saying things like, “I’m going to make commended.” Or, “I am going to be recognized for having the highest score on this test.” Then, the other students would all say things like, “Yeah, you can do it,” or, “I’m going to do that as well.”

This teacher reported that there has been a paradigm shift in the way the kids look at the test and at themselves. With the new attitude and confidence of knowing they can succeed, they are succeeding.